Inking mechanism for printing presses



Sept. 1, 1953 1.. A. RossE INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 17, 1949 M ll, r 5 243,,

ATTORNEYS Sept. 1, 1953 1.. A. ROSSE INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed June 17, 1949 Zia grwQ/rvbcm ATTORNEY$ Patented Sept. 1, 1953 INKING MECHANISM FOR PRINTING PRESSES Lucien A. Rosse, Long Island City, N. Y., assignor to American Type Founders, Inc., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 17, 1949, Serial No. 99,717

9 Claims.

This invention relates to an inking mechanism for a printing press and particularly to a mechanism for applying ink to the engraved cylinder of a printing press of the web type.

A cylinder inking mechanism for a web press commonly includes an ink reservoir, a pump, a conduit for leading ink from the pump to an applicator by means of which it is applied to the engraved cylinder, a doctor blade for scraping from the surface of the cylinder all of the ink which has been previously applied except that which is contained in the depressions which have been formed in the cylinder surface, together with means for returning the surplus ink to the reservoir for recirculation. The present invention, while pertaining generally to an inking mechanism of the conventional type above briefly described, includes features of improvement which render it more eflicient in operation than those which have heretofore been designed or suggested.

Thus the ink applicator by means of which the ink is flowed onto the printing surface is of improved type and has an increased ability to continuously flow onto the surface of the associated cylinder, a thin, continuous and bubblefree sheet of ink, well adapted to cause each depression, however small, to be completely filled with such printing fluid. The invention further contemplates the provision of an improved means for pumping the ink or other fluid to the applicator. The fluid pump itself is mounted in such manner that it may be bodily elevated or depressed to permit the operator to readily position the pump with its intake either above or below the level of the fluid in the associated reservoir. By so mounting the pump it may be quickly positioned for the purpose of withdrawing fluid from the reservoir or positioned to facilitate drainage of the entire inking mechanism, including the applicator and the pump itself. The arrangement is such that, when the pump is depressed so as to occupy its operative or pumping position, it is operatively connected to a power driven shaft of the press, the connection being of such nature as to cause the driving connection between press and pump to be broken when the pump is moved to elevated position. With an arrangement such as this it is possible for the press operator, without disconnecting any valves, fittings, hose or other parts of the ink circulating system, and without actually operating any valves as such, to cause ink to be supplied while the press is in operation, to drain the ink from the inking mechanism when the press is not in operation, and to wash the ink circulating system quickly and. easily by replacing the ink containing reservoir, after the ink has been drained from the system, with a reservoir containing a wash fluid or solvent.

The reservoir utilized as an element of the improved inking mechanism is preferably in the nature of a relatively small tank mounted upon floor engaging rollers or casters and the mounting of the pump is such that the reservoir and pump are simultaneously moved laterally of the press as the pump is moved upwardly from operative to inoperative position or as the pump is moved downwardly from inoperative to opera tive position, the pump being mounted for swinging movement about an axis. It is quite advantageous and economical to employ a small reservoir for ink or washing fluid and to manipulate the reservoir to facilitate adjustment of the pivotally mounted pump, since the press can thereby be caused to print satisfactorily when there is available to it only a relatively small body of ink. Economies are also realized by the saving in time necessary to drain the ink supply system and to thoroughly cleanse the same by washing.

Ihe invention may have various embodiments and the design and arrangement of its component elements may be modified in adapting it to presses which difier in type and details of design. One form of the invention which has been employed with great advantage in association with a web press is illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation, partly broken away, of a portion of a web press, upon which is mounted the form of inking mechanism, embodying the invention, which has been selected for disclosure by way of example;

Figures 2, 3 and 4 show, in side elevation, the fluid circulating pump and, in section, the fluid reservoir, the pump and reservoir being shown in Figure 2 in the positions which the-y respectively occupy when the pump is circulating fluid through the system; in Figure 3 in the positions which they respectively occupy when the pump is inoperative and the system is being drained of fluid into the reservoir; and in Figure 4 in the positions which they occupy after drainage has been completed and it is desired to remove the reservoir;

Figure 5 shows the pump and its supporting means in side elevation, upon a larger scale;

Figure 6 is a view of the pump and pump support as seen from above;

Figure 7 is a section through the printing cylinder and ink applicator; and

Figure 8 is a side elevation, partially broken away, of the ink applicator.

A portion of the frame of the press with which the novel ink circulating system is associated is indicated at ii! in the drawings and one of the engraved printing cylinders of the press is indicated at l I. It will be understood that the press with which the improved inking mechanism is associated may be of any type and the engraved cylinders of any size or design. The pump is generally indicated at P, the ink reservoir at R, the ink collecting receptacle at C, the applicator at A, ink removal device or doctor at D, and the ink supply and return conduits at S and I respectively.

The applicator A includes a trough i2 disposed above and to one side of the cylinder H, the trough being generally triangular in cross section and its longitudinal axis being parallel to the axis of the printing cylinder. The three fiat panels I211, 121) and He of trough 52 are substantially similar, and adjacent margins are interconnected except the adjacent margins of panels [2b and I20. Extending laterally from the upper edge of panel I 20 is an elongated, fiat pouring lip it over the slightly downturned terminal edge of which ink will flow, in the operation of the mechanism, in a stream which when descending onto the surface of the printing cylinder is in the form of a flat, elongated, vertically disposed sheet or film. The free edge of the panel i227 is disposed above the pouring lip l3 and defines, with lip 13, a relatively narrow escape slot for the ink. The trough [2 thus protects the body of ink which it encloses, against contamination, and prevents the ink from splashing. The ink supply duct through which ink passing upwardly through the supply conduit S is introduced into the trough 12 of the applicator is indicated at it and comprises a tube co-extensive in length with the trough, one end of this tube being in constant communication with the discharge end of the conduit S and the body of the tube within the trough l 2 being provided with a plurality of fluid outlet ports 15 for permitting jets of fluid to flow downwardly into the trough 52, as clearly indicated in Figure 7.

The ends of trough !2, one of which is shown in section in Figure 8 and is indicated by the reference character lgd, are provided with cylindrical apertures to receive the tube M and the tube thus comprises a support for the trough.

Each end member !2d has projecting outwardly therefrom a short cylindrical extension We of reduced diameter which is exteriorly threaded and the annular end of which is undercut, as shown. A nut 16 which encircles the tube is recessed to receive extension 12c, the cylindrical wall of the recess being threaded and the end wall sloped, an annular chamber for a packing element lSa being thus provided intermediate nut i6 and the end of extension 12c. Extension He may be split if desired, and the threaded surface tapered, so that the tube M will be frictionally gripped thereby when the nut I6 is tightened. The trough l2, and pouring lip I3, may be angularly adjusted, if desired, by loosening nuts it, and thereafter secured in adjusted position by retightening the nuts.

Tube 14 is mounted in split bearings i! which are in turn mounted upon the upper ends of rocking levers 18, respectively, these levers being pivoted at l9 upon the ink collection receptacle at the rear, for all adjustments thereof.

C. The pipe may be angularly adjusted in bearings i! if desired. Its movement, and the movement of the ink applicator A, toward the cylinder is limited by stops 20 which are adjustably mounted on brackets 2| attached to collecting vessel C. Screw bolts 22, working in slots 25a of brackets 2i and equipped with wings 22a, serve to clamp the levers l8 and to prevent accidental movement of the applicator. A sheet member T, hingedly connected to the panel l2a of the applicator trough l2, slidably engages the upper edge of the rear panel of receptacle C and serves to prevent splashing of fluid out of the receptacle By the means described the sheet Or film of descending ink may be caused to impinge upon the surface of the cylinder II in the precise position found most suitable.

The cylinder H revolves in the direction of the arrow B, as previously explained, and the surplus ink is removed by means of a doctor blade mounted inan adjustable doctor blade support The ink which is scraped from the cylinder surface by this scraping mechanism, which mechanism is of conventional character, falls into the sheet metal fluid collection receptacle indicated generally at C, which receptacle has an opening in its bottom'through which fluid may pass into the upper end of the fluid return conduit I, which may conveniently be a rubber hose. The lower end of conduit I is secured to an elbow 25,

mounted upon the frame of the pump, and to elbow 25 is secured the rigid outlet duct iii which, when the mechanism is in use, directs the flow of returning fluid into the reservoir R.

The casing of the centrifugal or other pump which is employed to circulate the fluid is indicated at 30 and it will be seen that this pump casing is ailixed to the lower end of an elongated pump support or mounting 3| which is in the nature of a tube. An enlarged section 33 of the pump mounting, located toward the upper end thereof, is provided with a hinge part 34 which is horizontally apertured to receive a pivot pin 35 which passes entirely through part 33 and has its ends mounted in aligned apertures formed in the parallel horizontally extending flanges of a yoke 36. Yoke 36 is supported in the position in which it is illustrated by means which includes a bracket 31 rigidly secured to a portion of the frame of the press, and a tubular bracket extension 38 which slidably receives spindle 39 upon the outer end of which yoke 36 is mounted. The outer end of the bracket extension 38 is split, as indicated in Figures 5 and 6, and a screw 4c is provided for the purpose of bringing the separated portions thereof toward each other to apply a clamping force to the spindle 39 which the bracket encircles.

After releasing the screw it the spindle 39 may be moved axially to adjust the position of the pivot pin 35. It will be observed that the pump mounting 3! may be swung about pivot 35 from the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 to the position in which it is shown in Figure l, or vice versa. In order to secure the pump mounting in any position to which it may be adjusted there is rigidly attached to the casing 32, as by means of screws 42, a plate 43 in which is formed a curved slot 44 centered on the axis of the pivot 35. Extending through the slot is a screw 46 having an operating handle ll, the screw having threaded relation with an upstanding portion 48 of the yoke 36. By rotating the screw the annular inner surface of its head 46a may be caused to engage the outer surface of plate 43 adjacent the slot 44, the stationary plate thus being clamped and relative movement of the plate and member 36 prevented, the pump mounting being thus releasably secured in any desired position of adjustment.

Within housing or mounting 3| and extending upwardly from the pump casing 30 is a shaft or other conventional driving connection (not illustrated), which operatively connects the pump to the pulley 50. Pulley 50 is operatively connected to a second pulley 5| by means of an endless belt 52. Pulley 5| is fixed upon a power driven shaft 53 extending longitudinally of the press, this shaft taking its motion from the prime mover of the press. So long as the shaft 53 is rotated and the pump mounting 3| is disposed as shown in Figures 1, 2 and 5 the belt 52 will be taut and and the rotation of shaft 53 willbe communicated to pulley 50 and the pump thus maintained in operation. As the pump mounting is moved to inclined position, as indicated in Figure 3, the belt 52 will become slack and the pump will become inoperative, even though the power shaft 53 may continue to revolve. Naturally, when the pump mounting 3| is moved to the position in which it is shown in Figure 4 the pump will remain inoperative. Hence the driving connection by means of which power is transmitted to the pump is automatically broken when the pump is elevated by being rocked through a small angle about supporting pivot 35. The clutching and unclutching of the pump to the source of power is, therefore, easily effected. Drainage begins as soon as pump operation stops and therefore commences as soon as the belt 52 becomes loose. In Figure 3 the pump mounting is shown in draining position.

The reservoir R may vary widely in details of construction but I prefer to provide a relatively small reservoir or tank, which results in economy in the use of ink and wash fluid, and to mount the reservoir upon rollers or casters so that, as the pump mounting is tilted, the reservoir can be readily moved along the supporting floor. By tilting the pump in the manner specified .and mounting the reservoir for convenient movement it is easily possible to provide the cylinder l I with an entirely adequate supply of ink from a reservoir of relatively small size and furthermore to withdraw the reservoir entirely after the system has drained and replace it with a second which contains wash liquid. After this has been done the pump mounting and reservoir are moved simultaneously inwardly until the pump mounting is vertically disposed and the pump is immersed in the liquid and is located at a point adjacent the bottom of the reservoir, as shown in Figure 2. As the pump mounting approaches vertical position the pump will be automatically clutched to the power driven shaft 33 and will immediately begin to function if the shaft 33 is then in motion.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a printing press, in combination, a printing cylinder mounted for rotation about a horizontal axis, and mechanism for applying ink to the printing surface thereof, said mechanism including a pump, means mounting the pump for rocking movement to and from operative position about an axis located below said cylinder axis and disposed transversely of said cylinder axis, and a reservoir below the last mentioned axis 6 and mounted for movement in the plane in which the pump moves when rocked about said second mentioned axis the reservoir being open and receiving the pump when the pump and. reservoir are simultaneously moved to operative position.

2. The combination set forth in claim 1 in which a locking device is associated with the pump mounting, by means of which the pump may be secured in any position to which it may be adjusted.

3. In a printing press, in combination, a printing cylinder, a power driven shaft, mechanism for applying ink to the surface of said cylinder, said mechanism including a pump and means mounting the pump for movement in a plane transverse to the axis of said power driven shaft, and means for automatically operatively connecting the shaft and pump when the pump is moved to a predetermined position and automatically disconnecting shaft and pump when the pump is moved away from said position.

4. In a printing press, in combination, a printing cylinder, a power driven shaft, mechanism for applying ink to the surface of said cylinder, said mechanism including a pump and means mounting the pump for movement in. a plane transverse to the axis of said power driven shaft, and means for operatively connecting the pump and shaft, said means including a belt and pulleys, one pulley being connected to the pump mounting so that the belt is rendered ineffective when the pump is moved away from a predetermined position.

5. Inking mechanism for a printing press comprising a pump mounted for rocking movement about an axis and a reservoir mounted for movement along a rectilinear path below said axis and in the plane in which the pump moves in rocking about said axis, the top of the reservoir being open and the pump being adapted to be introduced therein by simultaneously moving the reservoir and rocking the pump.

6. The combination with a printing press having a printing cylinder, of mechanism for supplying ink or other fluid to the printing surface of said cylinder, said mechanism including a shaft mounted for rotation by the drive means of the press, a reservoir normally positioned below the cylinder and adjacent said shaft, said reservoir being an upwardly opening bucket of large capacity and being bodily removable for the purpose of replacement of the liquid which it contains, means supporting the reservoir for horizontal movement toward and away from its normal position and a pump permanently mounted on the press and adapted to be connected to said shaft to be driven by said shaft when the press is in operation, said pump being angularly adjustable about a horizontal axis so that its inlet port may be introduced into the reservoir when the reservoir is moved toward normal operative position and withdrawn from the reservoir to facilitate removal of the reservoir from the press.

7. The combination with a printing press having a printing cylinder, of mechanism for supplying ink or other fluid to the printing surface of said cylinder, said mechanism including a shaft mounted for rotation by the drive means of the press, a reservoir normally positioned below the cylinder and adjacent said shaft, said reservoir opening upwardly and being bodily removable from the vicinity of the press for the purpose of replacement of the liquid which it contains, means supporting the reservoir for horizontal movement toward and away from its normal position, and a pump pivotally supported upon the press and adapted to be connected to said shaft to be driven by said shaft when the press is in operation, said pump having a liquid inlet port remote from its pivotal axis which may be moved into or out of said reservoir along an arcuate path as said reservoir is moved toward or away from said press along a substantially rectilinear horizontal path.

8. The combination set forth in claim 7 in which means is provided for automatically operatively connecting the pump and shaft as the inlet port of the pump reaches operative position within the reservoir and automatically disconmeeting said pump and shaft as the inlet port is moved away from operative position.

9. The combination set forth in claim 7 in which means is provided for automatically operatively connecting the pump and shaft as the inlet port of the pump reaches operative position within the reservoir and automatically disconnecting said pump and shaft as the inlet port is moved away from operative position, said means comprising a belt and pulley connection which is tightened when the pump is swung in one direction about its pivotal axis and loosened when the pump is swung in the opposite direction.

LUCIEN A. ROSSE.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

